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Cristmas Cheer and a Debt Hangover
Christmas is a time for celebration. A time to spend with family, friends and loved ones. This is a time to savour all that is good in life, to rest, relax and recuperate ready for a new year. Unfortunately Christmas is also a time when people...
Dealing with Student Debt
The UK used to have an excellent 'free' education system, on the premise that education its citizens made the whole country wealthier. That has now changed, and student loans are the norm, as in the USA. This, of course, means that the majority of...
Debt Collecting Q & A Issue 6 (Re-Submit)
DEBT COLLECTING Q & A – Issue #6 By Jim Finucan © Tiare Publications Group 385 words Editor: The following article is offered for your free use, provided the author Resource box is included at the end. Q) Jim: How can I be sure that I’ve gotten...
Debt Consolidation – Be Careful When Trading in Your Car
The automobile has long been recognized as the classic American status symbol. America’s millions of miles of roads and overall lack of long-distance mass transit leave the automobile as the primary method of transportation for most Americans....
Debt Tips
Debt is great, in fact, I don't know what I'd do without it. Debt teaches you to manage your money. Debt builds credit. And if you play your cards right, debt will actually earn money for you. It's all simple. If your credit is bad right now,...
How To Use Debt To Transform Your Life
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Is Debt Negotiation Bad? Points To Consider
Debt negotiation companies that claim they can wipe your credit
clean or guarantee they can reduce your debt are bad because
they can't deliver. But reputable companies can negotiate with
your creditors, often reducing your debt 10% to 50%. They...
Learn The Five Key Debt Reduction Steps You Must Take Immediately!
Step 1. The purpose of this first step is to bring you back to reality. You must know exactly how much money you owe and to whom you owe it. * Collect all of you unpaid bills and any other evidence of your outstanding debts. * List each...
Pay off debt now: 5 steps to getting your finances in order
In our world of dizzying change, nothing is more true than the time honored statement that circumstances always change. No where is this more true than with financial issues. Have you ever borrowed money, or charged up the VISA card at Christmas,...
Understanding how a Debt Consolidation Program works
You have finally decided that you need help with your debt and you have made a great decision to take a load off your shoulders. Debt is so stressful that it can even affect our health and certainly our enjoyment of our daily life. Understanding...
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Drowning in Debt? Tips and Tricks for Getting Out of Hot Water with Creditors
Do you, like millions of other Americans, feel like you’re sinking in an ocean of credit card debt? Well, fear not--there are many options for reducing your debt way before you have to be concerned about receiving notices or daunting telephone calls from debt collectors. The important thing to remember is to be proactive in handling your credit card debt. Unmanaged debt can ultimately lead to lawsuits, loss of property, and tarnished credit reports.
Here are a few ideas for managing and/or reducing your debt:
· Get in touch with creditors right away. Often times, creditors will reduce credit card interest rates if you simply ask for a break. Explain your situation, and let creditors know if you’re having trouble meeting your minimum monthly obligation. Many creditors will work with you to arrange a customized payment plan.
·Develop a budget. While many people dread this very important step in reducing debt, it can be extremely important in taking control of your financial situation. Compare and contrast fixed expenses—mortgage payments, rent, car payments, and insurance premiums, for example--with variable expenses, such as entertainment and recreation. List all your expenses, even those that seem unimportant. This is an important step in determining your spending patterns, prioritizing expenses, and determining whether or not you have additional money to contribute to the monthly payments on your credit card.
· Consolidate, consolidate, consolidate. While debt consolidation is a sometimes daunting and drastic step, it can be an important move in the quest to reduce your credit card debt. If you’re a homeowner, consider a second mortgage or
a home equity loan to pay off high-interest rate debt. While these loans often require you to list your home as collateral, remember that if you start skipping out on credit card payments, you could easily lose your home. What’s more, these loans provide tax advantages that are not available with many kinds of credit.
· Go to counseling. Credit counseling, that is. Many credit counseling organizations will help you come up with a feasible solution for ridding yourself of debt. You can find credit counselors on the Internet, and many credit unions, universities and military bases provide credit counseling programs. Also, get in touch with your bank, friends, and/or family for a recommendation.
Some of the services credit counselors provide: Advice on how to manage your debt, assistance in developing a budget, and classes and workshops that are geared towards teaching consumers about money management, credit card debt, and budgeting. Counselors can also recommend a debt management plan (DMP), which allows you to make monthly deposits to the specific counseling organization that you’re working with. Your counselor will then develop a payment schedule with your creditors that includes lower interest rates or waives certain fees.
For more suggestions and information on how to manage your credit card debt, please visit http://www.informedcredit.com
About the Author
Beth West has an extensive background in marketing and public relations, including management positions in the hospitality and software industries. Currently serving as the Director of Marketing for InformedCredit.com, she is also hoping to launch a freelance writing business.
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